On what would have been David Bowie’s 79th birthday, the Heritage of London Trust has announced the landmark acquisition of the home where David Robert Jones first became David Bowie.
The property, located at 4 Plaistow Grove in Bromley, served as the legendary artist's creative sanctuary from 1955 to 1967. It was within these walls that a young Bowie wrote his formative songs and later developed his breakthrough hit, Space Oddity.
A Meticulous Restoration
Due for completion in late 2027, the project will restore the "two up, two down" railway worker’s cottage to its original early-1960s appearance. Working alongside curator Geoffrey Marsh—who co-curated the V&A’s definitive David Bowie Is exhibition—the Trust will utilize a never-before-seen archive to recreate the interior exactly as it was when Bowie’s father commuted to Dr Barnardo’s and his mother worked as a waitress.
The heart of the experience is Bowie’s 9 ft x 10 ft bedroom. "I spent so much time in my bedroom," Bowie once recalled. "It really was my entire world." Fans will soon be able to walk the same floorboards where his trailblazing spirit was forged.
A Legacy of Creativity
More than just a museum, the site will act as a living tribute to Bowie’s 1969 Beckenham Arts Lab. Through the Trust’s Proud Places and Proud Prospects programs, the house will host creative workshops for local youth, fostering the next generation of artists.
Funding and Community Support
The restoration is anchored by a £500,000 grant from the Jones Day Foundation, though a public fundraising campaign has officially launched this month to complete the vision. The home sits near the famous 'Bowie Bandstand' in Beckenham, which was itself restored by the Trust in 2024.
“David Bowie was a proud Londoner,” said Dr. Nicola Stacey, Director of Heritage of London Trust. “It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to tell his story and inspire a new generation to follow their dreams.”
